Under a Pale shattered moon
Chapter 6, Deepening Bonds
I do not own anything pertaining to either RWBY or Bloodborne in the ways of any sort of ownership.
As always, thank you all for the wonderful reviews! I hope this chapter is to your liking!
Also, Fuck the Orphan of Kos. That is all.
Now,
Fear the Old Blood!
[UPSM]
Waking up feeling like he just finished going twenty rounds with the Orphan of Kos was not what Abel expected. As a matter of fact, he was almost positive he wouldn't be waking up whatsoever, so it came as a pleasant surprise that the first thing he laid eyes on was the smiling face of Doll.
"W...water, if you please." Abel coughed out, clutching his throat with his left hand lightly to try and ease the pain he felt. Using the Beast Roar like he did in the forest almost shredded his vocal chords completely, though his slight regeneration factor seemed to heal it up nicely.
The Doll complied with his request almost immediately, only pausing to send him another smile before doing so. 'Why is she smiling at me so?' Abel questioned himself, eyeballing his constant companion with weariness.
A glass of water was held before him, allowing him to grasp the glass with his left hand after removing it from his throat rather quickly. Promptly gulping down the vital liquid, Abel let out a sigh of relief the moment the glass was completely drained. "Tell me, did the others make it out of the forest, Doll?"
"Indeed they did, Good Hunter, and in very good health. Before we speak any further, the Good Doctor has asked me to inform him the moment you wake. Just a moment, if you will." The Doll answered, a small smile still resting on her face as she turned from the hunter to press a small red button on his bedside, summoning the Doctor from wherever he might be.
Not even a minute passed before the Doctor practically appeared out of thin air before the two, his ever present thermos of coffee in hand. Abel would have been slightly scared of the mans ridiculous speed if it wasn't for the fact that the man meant him absolutely no harm, if only for the fact that speedy opponents were always the most difficult to deal with. "I see that you are awake, fantastic! Now, how do you feel Mister Iscariot?"
Having grown used to the mans hyperactivity after a week of attending the mans history class, Abel was easily able to translate the rapid speech into an understandable sentence. "I feel like I was used as target practice for my teacher Gehrman, but I should be fine after a day or two. How long have I been under, Doctor?"
Oobleck hummed under his breath while looking over the medical information being transmitted by the devices hooked up to the Iscariot before finally answering. "You have only been unconscious for a few hours now, I was expecting you to be under for much longer. How are you even awake right now?"
"It would take far more than a Grimm of that caliber to keep me down for any length of time longer than what I was already out, Doctor Oobleck. Does everything seem to be in working order?" Abel questioned while looking at the medical equipment he was strapped up to with a critical eye, distrustful of anything of the sort due to the Healing Church and Iosefka's impostor. "Can you remove these infernal contraptions from my being, please? They are making me... slightly nervous."
With deft hands, all of the equipment was promptly removed and set to the side almost before the Iscariot could blink. "After seeing your many scars, I would have thought you wouldn't have a problem with medical equipment." Oobleck stated with a curious tone, though Abel refused to elaborate on just why he was distrustful of such things.
Only Ozpin, Glynda and Team RWBY was privy to any information on his past, the rest of the staff and students of Beacon being purposefully being left in the dark about such things due to Abel's innate distrustful nature and pure paranoia.
"'Tis something I do not wish to discuss, Doctor Oobleck, though I am grateful that you provided such care for someone such as myself. You have my thanks, but I must demand that I be released to recover on my own." Abel finally spoke after a moment of silence passed between the three conscious beings present in Beacons infirmary.
Oobleck sent a critical eye towards Abel before shrugging his shoulders and signing the discharge papers on a clipboard by Abel's bed. "If you insist, young man, though I do ask that if you are feeling unwell that you return here immediately, alright? One of the nurses here will be able to provide any medical help you might need, usually it is left up to them to take care of injured students but you were in such shape that you required the care of a certified Doctor." The green haired hyperactive man spoke in his usual garbled speech.
"Wait... where is my armor?" Abel questioned with a harsh tone, looking all around for the ashen metal-like material that usually covered his chest after noticing his torso was completely bare.
"T'was destroyed beyond repair, Good Hunter. Fret not, the Headmaster has ordered a replacement to be sent to you in the same design, though the material would not be as it was." The Doll spoke up, trying to prevent Abel from going off the deep end from being separated from his favorite armor for any length of time.
The Iscariot cared greatly for his garb, it having saved his life on more than one occasion during his time in the Dream. To be without his almost iconic armor, he considered himself vulnerable despite being able to shrug off wounds that would surely kill any lesser being easily.
A scoff was the only answer the Doll received before he finally relented and schooled his face into an impassive facade, something Gehrman taught him to do early on during his hunt. "And what length of time did he say I must wait for a replacement?"
The Doll shrugged her shoulders before offering a hand to help her favorite Hunter from the bed he was resting in, something he took without hesitation. Despite being made of porcelain, the Doll showed a surprising amount of strength as she easily hefted the silver haired vampiric teenager from his resting position without any sign of struggle.
"Mister Iscariot, before you leave, I must ask... Do you know why your Aura was fluctuating as it was?" Oobleck questioned, looking up from his position beside Cardin, who was receiving the same treatment Abel was though he was still unconscious from the blood loss he suffered.
"You... seem to be mistaken, Professor, I do not HAVE Aura." Abel finally answered, pausing in the doorway with the Doll just behind him. "How can something fluctuate if it is not present in my body?"
Oobleck scoffed at the teen before pulling out his scroll and pointing it at Abel for a moment before using his hyper speed to appear at the teenagers side. "It says right here that you do, Mister Iscariot. Our scrolls are capable of locking onto Aura to keep up with how much you use during combat class, as you know. Every being with a soul has Aura, no ands ifs or buts about it."
"...How is that even possible...?" Abel murmured to himself, staring at the scroll that clearly indicated that he did, in fact, have a pool of Aura, and a large one at that. "I must have been mistaken, Good Doctor, my apologies." Abel spoke up to the Doctor, causing the man to give him a slightly distrustful look before he nodded his head.
"Yes, you must have been mistaken. Alright, well make sure to go straight to your room and rest, no detours! Doctors orders!" The Bartholomew spoke with false joviality, clapping his hands together while his thermos of coffee floated in mid air while he did so, a testament to the mans supreme speed in all things related to movement.
Snapping his fingers, Oobleck pulled out the yellowed bone necklace from his pocket and tossed it to Abel, who caught it and held it close to his chest, stroking it almost reverently before he placed the necklace around his neck. With a nod towards the green haired Doctor, Abel turned on his heel and began his trek to the dorm room assigned to him with Doll at his side.
'What are you hiding, and why?' Oobleck questioned himself as he watched one of his latest patients leave the infirmary with a slight limp, being helped along by the strange artificial being known as 'Doll' that appeared at the school at the same time as Abel did. 'What did you mean by how is that even possible?'
[UPSM]
Teams RWBY and JNPR were released from the Headmasters office close to an hour after they gave their debriefing, each having watched as the pack of Grimm that followed Abel back from Forever Falls continued to slaughter Grimm after Grimm within the Emerald Forest with rapt attention. With their disbelief temporarily suspended for such an occasion, the eight teens were privileged with watching the powerful Grimm do their work in peace, something none of them would have ever thought possible before this day.
"So, which one of the Grimm is your favorite, Weiss?" Ruby questioned, a small skip in her step as the four members of team RWBY made their way back to their dorm room after an eventful day.
The young Schnee seemed to consider the question seriously before shrugging her shoulders. "The white haired female of the group had the highest kill count out of all of them, as well as the cleanest kills of them all. However, I personally like the black haired female the best. She was relentless!"
Yang chuckled at the exuberance of the white haired heiresses answer considering it was irregular to hear praise towards anyone from the Schnee. "I liked the white haired one with the red cloak, I never considered breaking off a Grimms spikes and killing them with it. Nifty stuff right there."
Blake scoffed before giving her own opinion on the subject, "You WOULD like something like that, you brute. I liked how quick the Beta was, she didn't play with her opponents. Quick and with no movements wasted."
Yang was tempted to make a sexual innuendo out of what Blake said, but a dirty look from the feline faunus quickly stopped the words before they could properly form. The Xiao Long pouted, crossing her arms over her ample chest while looking away, not amused that Blake had known what she was going to say before she even said it.
Ruby laughed at the insult hurled at her sister, knowing that the two that made up the Bumblebee combo differed like night and day. "I don't know, Blake, I thought it was clever! Did you see how the blond haired one took out that nevermore though? I didn't even know Deathstalkers could fly that far!"
"I would hardly consider being picked up by the tail, spun around and tossed like a Frisbee flying, Ruby." Weiss sniffed, trying to ignore Yang and Blake who devolved into another childish argument over dirty jokes and when they are appropriate to tell, something Yang had absolutely no filter for.
The four continued to discuss the craziness they witnessed in the Emerald Forest for a few more moments before coming across the limping form of Abel Iscariot being supported by the Doll as the two slowly made their way to Abel's dorm room, shocking the four that he was even conscious after going through what he went through.
"Holy crap, Abel!" Ruby shouted, disappearing in a puff of rose petals from her spot in front of her team, only to reappear with her arms wrapped tightly around the Iscariots waist. "Your awake! We were so worried about you, are you alright?!"
Abel had to forcibly suppress the urge to lash out at the young girl for invading his personal space in such a manner, almost failing to do so before he noticed that it was Ruby and not an enemy doing so.
"Ruby, please remove yourself from my person." Abel calmly stated, wincing slightly at the harsh grip the young girl had on him, "I do not like being touched."
Ruby had the decency to look ashamed before quickly removing her arms from around the much taller teenagers hips before blushing heavily at seeing him walk around shirtless. "Sorry Abel, I couldn't help it... why aren't you wearing a shirt?"
The Vileblood knight sighed before speaking the obvious. "I would be, but they are all in my room and my armor had to be disposed of."
The young Rose nodded her head in acceptance of the answer provided before looking abashed at invading the silver haired teenagers personal space. "Sorry, I know you don't like being touched but... I was really, really worried, Abel. That was really brave, what you did."
Abel was taken aback at the praise coming from the young girl before a small smile crossed his face, an honest smile. "Thank you, Little Ruby, it means much to hear such praise come from you."
Ruby beamed up at the giant of a teenager before beconning her team closer, the other three picking up their pace to comply with their leaders silent command. Yang looked very uncomfortable being around someone she knew could snap her like a twig, something that Abel was quick to pick up on.
Weiss and Blake, however, seemed to be relieved at seeing the Vileblood walking amongst the living once again. Weiss marched right up to the silver haired teenager and punched him in the ribs lightly, her cheeks puffed out while she glared up into Abels glowing crimson eyes. "If you worry us like that again, good reason or not, I will find a way to make your life miserable, do you hear me Iscariot?"
Abel stared down at the small teenaged heiress in disbelief before his shoulders started rising and falling quickly, indicating silent laughter before he nodded his head. "As you wish, Mistress." He spoke, sarcasm dripping from his words like liquid, though Weiss could tell he meant it as a joke.
Blake just reached up and patted the man on the shoulder, looking almost as uncomfortable as Yang but for a completely different reason. "You owe us a big apology for almost dying, and I will take nothing less than the most expensive seafood dinner you can afford as compensation." She said simply, her tone as blank as it usually was. Baleful crimson peered into cool amber before the Iscariot nodded his head in the affirmative.
"I sincerely apologize for worrying you ladies and I will... attempt... to not put myself in that position again. However... I hate to inform you that I have no means of even purchasing my own dinner, let alone something as nice as a seafood dish, Miss Belladonna." Abel admitted, reaching his right hand up to scratch under his chin in thought.
Tilting his head to the side, the silver haired teenager began to ponder on how he might even go about earning the currency used in the land of remnant as he doubted the shopkeepers in Vale would take blood echoes.
Snapping his fingers, Abel finally had a brilliant idea, a smile once again appearing on his usually stoic face. "Would you four ladies like to accompany this weary hunter to his room? I might have something that could, hopefully, earn myself a bit of dosh if I am not mistaken."
Looking between each other, Blake, Ruby and Weiss nodded in the affirmative while Yang shook her head no. "Sorry, big guy, I think I am going to hit the hay. I'm beat."
Both the Doll and Abel tilted their heads to the side in confusion, not understanding her words in the least. "If you are tired, would it not be smarter to rest instead of attacking hay?"
Yang face palmed and shook her head, still not believing that Abel didn't understand common lingo. "You are hopeless, Iscariot. Don't be out late, ya'll, we are still going to Vale in the morning."
With those parting words, Yang walked away from the five gathered in the halls with a wave over her shoulders, causing Ruby to send a worried gaze towards her usually exuberant sister. "I wonder what's wrong with Yang, she almost NEVER goes to bed this early, even after she completely wrecked that Junior guys club..."
Weiss and Blake shared a look of understanding before they changed the subject, bringing Ruby out of her pondering in hopes of distracting her from Yang's attempt of distancing herself from the Iscariot and his really tall companion. "Don't worry, Ruby, I am sure she just needs to take a nice, long shower after crawling through Forever Falls today." Weiss murmured, her eyes following Yang as she disappeared around the corner at the end of the hallway the group found themselves standing in.
"So what did you want to show us, Abel?" Blake finally questioned as the five started to walk slowly towards Abels dorm room at a slow pace to accommodate the still sore Hunter.
"I have a very large collection of coins that at one time was used as currency and I am sure that some might be made of precious metals. I was hoping one of you three could help me find someone to purchase them, and in turn I will pay you a fee in exchange." Abel admitted, scratching his chest lightly as they came to a stop in front of his dorm room. The glowing carmine scars itched something fierce, something Abel was used to in unnaturally healed wounds. Despite bearing more scars than any other he knew except for maybe Eileen, he was still unused to the crawling feeling that came from the healed wounds.
Doll fished a scroll out of a small pouch hanging off of her hip before holding it up to the door, causing the heavy metal barricade to slide away, thus allowing the five to pour into the spacious room without further adieu.
The three members of team RWBY present expected the room to be spacious due to the fact that Abel had the room to himself, but they were not prepared for him to have such a large room all to himself seeing as his room was close to double the size of the one the four shared.
"Why do YOU get such a big room!" Ruby pouted, stomping her foot and crossing her arms childishly in false anger, taking note of the somewhat decorated room and the exotic weapons that lined the walls, not to mention the crimson bottles resting on his desk as well as a map of lands she was sure she had never laid eyes upon.
Abel shrugged his shoulders demurely after pausing through his digging in his wardrobe, not knowing the answer to the young girls question in the least. "I haven't the slightest of ideas, Little Ruby, though I am rather happy with it."
With a sigh, Abel removed a frilly black dress shirt before quickly slipping it on and closing the golden clasps that held it shut before slipping a black waist coat with golden embroidery on over it, something that was given to him by the Queen of the Vilebloods herself. Woven of the highest quality silk he had ever owned, the small vest was one of his nicest articles of clothing, something he had never worn into combat.
Letting her curiosity get the better of her, the black haired leader of team RWBY began to explore the room, drinking in the sights and committing them to memory as well as she could before she began to ogle the strange weapons hanging precariously from their stands drilled into the walls.
"Dear Oum, is that a circular saw... on a stick?" Weiss questioned incredulously, peering at the weapon that caught her attention with a critical eye.
Abel looked over his shoulder as he grabbed one of his spare black dusters, a small smile on his face as he remembered the first time he laid eyes upon the beast of a weapon. "That, my dear, is known as the Whirligig saw. Before you inquire, no, I did not name it. That is a very... VERY brutal piece of weaponry, that is."
"Whirligig saw? What a preposterous name..." Weiss scoffed, eying the weapon even harder than before as if trying to discern why one would name it as such.
"When initiated, the four blades will rotate at extreme speeds, absolutely shredding whatever may be in its path. When used in its first form, it makes a great cudgel." Abel admitted while checking himself over before looking to the Doll, who nodded her head in acceptance of his current outfit.
Ruby gasped before jumping up and down, pointing to one of the more strange looking weapons hanging on the wall. "Oh, Oh, what is THIS one called?" The petite fifteen year old questioned, pointing to a wicked and uneven looking twin blade resting apart from the rest of the weaponry.
"That... that is the Rakuyo, made in the same land as the Chikage. It was wielded by a fellow Hunter, one... one that I wish I got to know properly before her early demise." Abel admitted, his tone growing somber as he remembered the beautiful woman that Doll was made to resemble. "Out of all of the Hunters I have ever faced down, Maria was, without a doubt, the most stunning and deadly woman to exist."
The Doll looked down sadly before a small smile appeared on her lips at the inadvertent compliment, knowing that the subject of Maria was a sore one for Abel as well as herself. 'So he considers me stunning, does he?' Doll thought to herself, 'Tis a good thing I cannot blush, surely I would be red in the face with such words.'
A bittersweet smile crossed both Doll and Abel's face, something that the three teenaged females caught on to.
"What happened to her?" Ruby questioned, not understanding why Abel would have such a tone in his voice while remembering someone he considered stunning, which was extremely high praise coming from him if she was right.
"... I do not wish to speak about that, if you please, Little Ruby." Abel eventually admitted, sitting down heavily on the edge of his bed before reaching under the comfortable mattress to retrieve a rather large chest. Pulling it out with a slight hiss, the Vileblood bit his thumb hard enough to draw blood and swiped it across the glowing rune that held the chest shut, causing the rune to fade away and the chest to snap open.
Inside of the chest was a ridiculous amount of brilliantly shinning coins and even a few unidentifiable stones, not to mention a plethora of different styles of jewelry ranging from broaches to rings embedded with multiple different gem stones, all of which he had collected throughout his time of the Dream and even the Nightmare. "Tell me, do any of you think these would be fit to sell?"
Weiss walked away from the grotesque looking saw to get a better look at the coins, letting out a loud gasp when she laid eyes upon the shining coins. "Abel, where did you get these?!"
"When you wander as much as I have, Young Mistress, you tend to pick up a few trinkets." Abel shrugged, not knowing that the coins he had collected were worth far more than just a way to light the way through the darkness. "Why do you ask?"
"These are gold! Pure gold! Holy Oum, you're rich!" Weiss exclaimed after snatching one of the coins out of the chest to get a better look at the glistening metal disks, "You could purchase a dust mine and the mountain on top of it with all of this!"
"Is... is that a good thing?" Abel questioned, not understanding the value of a dust mine, though purchasing a mountain was not something he would waste valuable resources on if he were honest. While he knew that jewelry was sought after, he did not know to what extent. Even Queen Annalise did not bother with such trivialities, something he found out after he made the mistake of trying to present one of the items to her.
Abel remembered the day he made that mistake all too well, a day he would regret to the end of his days. 'Why did she think I was asking her to wed me, T'was only meant as a gift...' The Iscariot thought to himself, a frown marring his face as he did.
"Yes, you nimrod, it is a very good thing. Goodness gracious, you baffle me." Weiss murmured, not understanding how the silver haired giant of a teenager didn't know the value of gold. "And this jewelry... Dear Oum, I would KILL for one of these items!"
Abel scratched the side of his head in confusion, not knowing how any of the different pieces of jewelry were worth anything. After all, growing up in the Hinterlands and later traveling to a beast infested Yharnam did not give him the knowledge of how such gaudy and unnecessary items contained any worth, especially considering that they were only purely cosmetic. The only reason he even bothered gathering any of the items was because he liked the way they gleamed in the darkness, or maybe it was even during his brief stints of insanity, he couldn't recall clearly those moments after all.
Ruby and Blake felt their jaws drop at seeing a chest full of loot, not bothering to fix their expressions as they drank in the sight of so much gold being present in one place. "Abel... be honest with me... are you a Pirate? That is a LOT of booty." Ruby questioned in a small, disbelieving voice, her mouth finally snapping shut when he tilted his head to the side curiously.
"... Just what is a Pirate, and what does that have to do with posteriors?"